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A self-sufficient nicotinamide-dependent intramolecular bio-Tishchenko-type reaction was developed. The reaction is catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenases and proceeds through formal intramolecular hydride transfer on dialdehydes to deliver lactones. Regioselectivity on [1,1′-biphenyl]-2,2′-dicarbaldehyde substrates could be controlledviathe electronic properties of the substituents. Preparative scale synthesis provided access to substituted dibenzo[c,e]oxepin-5(7H)-ones.

Chiral polyvinylpyrrolidinone (CSPVP), complexes of CSPVP with a core species, such as a metallic nanocluster catalyst, and enantioselective oxidation reactions utilizing such complexes are disclosed. The CSPVP complexes can be used in asymmetric oxidation of diols, enantioselective oxidation of alkenes, and carbon-carbon bond forming reactions, for example. The CSPVP can also be complexed with biomolecules such as proteins, DNA, and RNA, and used as nanocarriers for siRNA or dsRNA delivery.

The syn-dihydroxylation of alkenes is a highly valuable reaction in organic synthesis. Cyclic acyl peroxides (CAPs) have emerged recently as promising candidates to replace the commonly employed toxic metals for this purpose. Here, we demonstrate that the structurally demanding cyclic peroxide spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,4′-[1,2]dioxolane]-3′,5′-dione (P4) can be effectively used for the syn-dihydroxylation of alkenes. Reagent P4 also shows an improved selectivity for dihydroxylation of alkenes bearing β-hydrogens as compared to other CAPs, where both diol and allyl alcohol products compete with each other. Furthermore, the use of enantiopure P4 (labeled P4′) demonstrates the potential of P4′ for a metal-free asymmetric syn-dihydroxylation of alkenes.

A highly reactive and selective catalytic system comprising Fe(III) and macrocyclic pyridine-containing ligands (Pc-L) for alkene oxidation by using hydrogen peroxide is reported herein. Four new stable iron(III) complexes have been isolated and characterized. Importantly, depending on the anion of the iron(III) metal complex employed as catalyst, a completely reversed selectivity was observed. When X=OTf, a selective dihydroxylation reaction took place. On the other hand, employing X=Cl resulted in the epoxide as the major product. The reaction proved to be quite general, tolerating aromatic and aliphatic alkenes as well as internal or terminal double bonds and both epoxides and diol products were obtained in good yields with good to excellent selectivities (up to 93 % isolated yield and d.r.=99 : 1). The catalytic system proved its robustness by performing several catalytic cycles, without observing catalyst deactivation. The use of acetone as a solvent and hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidant renders this catalytic system appealing.

A novel synthetic approach was developed for the construction of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline framework possessing varied functions. The synthetic strategy was based on oxidative ring opening of some indene derivatives through their C=C bond, followed by double reductive amination of the dicarbonyl intermediates with various primary alkyl- or fluoroalkylamines.

A mechanistic investigation of the carbohydrate/DBU cocatalyzed enantioselective diboration of alkenes is presented. These studies provide an understanding of the origin of stereoselectivity and also reveal a strategy for enhancing reactivity and broadening the substrate scope.

A series of unprecedented binaphthyl–osmium nanoparticles (OsNPs) with chiral modifiers were applied in the heterogeneous asymmetric dihydroxylation of alkenes. A remarkable size effect of the OsNPs, depending on the density of the covalent organic shells, on the reactivity and enantioselectivity of the dihydroxylation reaction was revealed. Successful recycling of the OsNPs was also demonstrated and high reaction efficiency and enantioselectivity were maintained.

We report a new methodology for the organocatalytic diboration reaction using inexpensive, sustainable, nontoxic, commercially available halogen salts. This is an educative manuscript for the transformation of laboratory scale reactions into a sustainable approach of appeal to industry.

Toluene Dioxygenase (TDO) enzymatic complex has been widely used as a biocatalyst for the regio- and enantioselective preparation of cis-cyclohexadienediols, which are very important starting materials for organic synthesis. However, the lack of regio- and stereodiversity of the dioxygenation process by TDO and related dioxygenases constitutes a clear drawback when planning the use of these diols in synthetic schemes. In this work, we developed three TDO mutants in residues phenylalanine 366, threonine 365 and isoleucine 324, with the aim to alter the chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity of the biotransformation of arenes. While no changes in the regioselectivity of the process were observed, dramatic variations in the chemo- and enantioselectivity were found for mutants I324F, T365N and F366 V in a substrate-dependent manner. (Figure presented.).

The generation of in situ sp2–sp3diboron adducts has revolutionised the synthesis of organoboranes. Organocatalytic diboration reactions have represented a milestone in terms of unpredictable reactivity of these adducts. However, current methodologies have limitations in terms of substrate scope, selectivity and functional group tolerance. Here a new methodology based on the use of simple amines as catalyst is reported. This methodology provides a completely selective transformation overcoming current substrate scope and functional/protecting group limitations. Mechanistic studies have been included in this report.

A new class of poly-N-vinylpyrrolidinones containing an asymmetric center at C5 of the pyrrolidinone ring were synthesized from l-amino acids. The polymers, particularly 17, were used to stabilize nanoclusters such as Pd/Au for the catalytic asymmetric oxidations of 1,3- and 1,2-cycloalkanediols and alkenes, and Cu/Au was used for C-H oxidation of cycloalkanes. It was found that the bulkier the C5 substituent in the pyrrolidinone ring, the greater the optical yields produced. Both oxidative kinetic resolution of (±)-1,3- and 1,2-trans-cycloalkanediols and desymmetrization of meso cis-diols took place with 0.15 mol % Pd/Au (3:1)-17 under oxygen atmosphere in water to give excellent chemical and optical yields of (S)-hydroxy ketones. Various alkenes were oxidized with 0.5 mol % Pd/Au (3:1)-17 under 30 psi of oxygen in water to give the dihydroxylated products in >93% ee. Oxidation of (R)-limonene at 25 °C occurred at the C-1,2-cyclic alkene function yielding (1S,2R,4R)-dihydroxylimonene 49 in 92% yield. Importantly, cycloalkanes were oxidized with 1 mol % Cu/Au (3:1)-17 and 30% H2O2 in acetonitrile to afford chiral ketones in very good to excellent chemical and optical yields. Alkene function was not oxidized under the reaction conditions. Mechanisms were proposed for the oxidation reactions, and observed stereo- and regio-chemistry were summarized.

Catalytic enantioselective diboration of alkenes is accomplished with readily available carbohydrate-derived catalysts. Mechanistic experiments suggest the intermediacy of 1,2-bonded diboronates.

The development of environmentally benign catalysts for highly enantioselective asymmetric cis-dihydroxylation (AD) of alkenes with broad substrate scope remains a challenge. By employing [FeII(L)(OTf)2] (L=N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-methyl-8-quinolyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine) as a catalyst, cis-diols in up to 99.8 % ee with 85 % isolated yield have been achieved in AD of alkenes with H2O2as an oxidant and alkenes in a limiting amount. This “[FeII(L)(OTf)2]+H2O2” method is applicable to both (E)-alkenes and terminal alkenes (24 examples >80 % ee, up to 1 g scale). Mechanistic studies, including18O-labeling, UV/Vis, EPR, ESI-MS analyses, and DFT calculations lend evidence for the involvement of chiral FeIII-OOH active species in enantioselective formation of the two C?O bonds.

A practical approach to radical C-H bond functionalization by the photolysis of a hypervalent iodine(iii) reagent is presented. The photolysis of [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene (PIFA) leads to the generation of trifluoroacetoxy radicals, which allows the smooth transformation of various alkylbenzenes to the corresponding benzyl ester compounds under mild reaction conditions.

The asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins is of special interest due to the facile transformation of the chiral diol products into valuable derivatives. Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases (ROs) represent promising biocatalysts for this reaction as they can be engineered to efficiently catalyze the selective mono- and dihydroxylation of various olefins. The introduction of a single point mutation improved selectivities (≥95 %) and conversions (>99 %) towards selected alkenes. By modifying the size of one active site amino acid side chain, we were able to modulate the regio- and stereoselectivity of these enzymes. For distinct substrates, mutants displayed altered regioselectivities or even favored opposite enantiomers compared to the wild-type ROs, offering a sustainable approach for the oxyfunctionalization of a wide variety of structurally different olefins. Modulation by mutation: Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases can be used as efficient biocatalysts for the selective oxyfunctionalization of various olefins yielding vicinal cis-diols and allylic alcohols. Introduction of a single amino acid substitution in the active sites of two selected oxygenases resulted in variants with improved stereoselectivities and product formations.

Dioxygen activation by copper complexes is a valuable method to achieve oxidation reactions for sustainable chemistry. The development of a catalytic system requires regeneration of the CuI active redox state from CuII. This is usually achieved using extra reducers that can compete with the CuII(O2) oxidizing species, causing a loss of efficiency. An alternative would consist of using a photosensitizer to control the reduction process. Association of a RuII photosensitizing subunit with a CuII pre-catalytic moiety assembled within a unique entity is shown to fulfill these requirements. In presence of a sacrificial electron donor and light, electron transfer occurs from the RuII center to CuII. In presence of dioxygen, this dyad proved to be efficient for sulfide, phosphine, and alkene catalytic oxygenation. Mechanistic investigations gave evidence about a predominant 3O2 activation pathway by the CuI moiety.

Conjugates of enzymes and poly(2-methyloxazoline) were used as organosoluble amphiphilic polymer nanocontainers for dissolving osmate, thereby converting the enzymes into organosoluble artificial metalloenzymes. These were shown to catalyze the dihydroxylation of different alkenes with high enantio-selectivity The highest selectivities, found for osmate complexed with laccase polymer-enzyme conjugates (PECs), even exceed those of classical Sharpless catalysts.

A new catalyst derived from osmium has been prepared, fully characterized and tested in the dihydroxylation of alkenes. The catalyst was prepared by wet impregnation methodology of OsCl3·3H2O on a commercial micro-magnetite surface. The catalyst allowed the reaction with one of the lowest osmium loadings for a heterogeneous catalyst and was selective for the monodihydroxylation of 1,5-dienes. Moreover, the catalyst was easily removed from the reaction medium by the simple use of a magnet. The selectivity of catalyst is very high with conversions up to 99%. Preliminary kinetics studies showed a first-order reaction rate with respect to the catalyst.

The efficient and highly selective formation of a wide range of (hetero)cyclic cis-diol scaffolds using aminotriphenolate-based metal catalysts is reported. The key intermediates are cyclic carbonates, which are obtained in high yield and with high levels of diastereo- and chemoselectivity from the parent oxirane precursors and carbon dioxide. Deprotection of the carbonate structures affords synthetically useful cis-diol scaffolds with different ring sizes that incorporate various functional groups. This atom-efficient method allows the simple construction of diol synthons using inexpensive and accessible precursors and green metal catalysts and showcases the use of CO2 as a temporary protecting group. Protective Carbon: Aminotriphenolate complexes of FeIII and AlIII are highly efficient and selective catalysts for the conversion of functional (multi)cyclic oxiranes into the corresponding cis carbonates. Basic hydrolysis of the latter provides a series of useful cyclic cis-diol scaffolds in high yield. In this process, CO2 acts as both a temporary protecting group and an oxygen donor.

A one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxyisochroman-1-one (lactol) 3 by oxidation of indene using tungstic acid-hydrogen peroxide is reported. The synthesized lactol was converted into acetal derivatives 5a-h, which were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) strains, and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by broth dilution method. The compounds show potent activity against S. aureus in comparison with ampicillin and exhibit modest antifungal activity.

The use of chiral alcohols to form the Lewis acid-base *RO - → bis(pinacolato)diboron adduct, in situ, provides an opportunity to induce asymmetry in the organocatalytic diboration of alkenes and complements the well established transition metal-mediated enantioselective diboration.

Cyclobutane malonoyl peroxide (7), prepared in a single step from the commercially available diacid 6, is an effective reagent for the dihydroxylation of alkenes. Reaction of a chloroform solution of 7 with an alkene in the presence of 1 equiv of water at 40 °C followed by alkaline hydrolysis leads to the corresponding diol (30-84%). With 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, the reaction proceeds with syn-selectivity (3:1 → 50:1). A mechanism consistent with experimental findings is proposed, which is supported by deuterium and oxygen labeling studies and explains the stereoselectivity observed. Alternative reaction pathways that are dependent on the structure of the starting alkene are also described leading to the synthesis of allylic alcohols and γ-lactones.

To improve the synthesis and reactivity of phthaloyl peroxide derivatives a method has been developed using sodium percarbonate and phthaloyl chlorides. The reactions of the new phthaloyl peroxide derivatives with trans-stillbene as well as the improved reactivity of 3,4-dichlorophthaloyl peroxide with a variety of alkenes are reported.

Taking control: Selective catalysts for olefin dihydroxylation have been generated by the combination of apo-streptavidin and OsO4. Site-directed mutagenesis allows improvement of enantioselectivity and even inversion of enantiopreference in certain cases. Notably allyl phenyl sulfide and cis-β-methylstyrene were converted with unprecedented enantiomeric excess.

(Figure Presented) 1, 2-Diols, aldehydes, and ketones are important intermediates in chemical synthesis, and alkenes are possible precursors for 1, 2-diols, aldehydes, and ketones. Herein, novel and environmentally benign methods for palladium-catalyzed dihydroxylation and oxidative cleavage of olefins with oxygen as sole oxidant are presented. The cleavage reactions were performed with acid as additive in aqueous solution, whereas 1, 2-diols were formed in the presence of base. A broad substrate scope has been demonstrated allowing monosubstituted aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkenes, 1, 2-disubstituted, and 1, 1-disubstituted olefins. The cleavage reactions of dioxo-PdII complexes implicate 1, 2-diol might act as a key intermediate of olefin cleavage.

Cyclopropyl malonoyl peroxide (1), which can be prepared in a single step from the commercially available diacid, is an effective reagent for the dihydroxylation of alkenes. Reaction of 1 with an alkene in the presence of 1 equiv of water at 40 °C followed by alkaline hydrolysis leads to the corresponding diol (40-93%). With 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, the reaction proceeds with syn selectivity (3:1 to >50:1). A mechanism consistent with the experimental findings that is supported by oxygen-labeling studies is proposed.

To obtain information about the effect that methanesulfonamide has in the hydrolysis step in Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, a series of aliphatic and conjugated aromatic olefins were dihydroxylated with and without methanesulfonamide. The hypothesis in this study was that methanesulfonamide is a cosolvent that aids in the transfer of the hydroxide ions from the water phase to the organic phase. A plot of t90% versus the computational partition coefficient clog P of the intermediate osmate ester of nonterminal aliphatic olefins revealed that the polarity of the intermediate osmate ester has a significant effect on the reaction time and methanesulfonamide effect. The more polar the intermediate osmate ester, the faster is the reaction without methanesulfonamide and the smaller the accelerating methanesulfonamide effect. Methanesulfonamide had no accelerating effect in the asymmetric dihydroxylation of short chain terminal aliphatic olefins as a result of easier accessibility of terminal osmate ester groups to the water phase. A cosolvent hypothesis was found not to be valid in asymmetric dihydroxylations of conjugated aromatic olefins. In the reaction conditions used in Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, weakly acidic methanesulfonamide was found to be a general acid catalyst that protonates the intermediate osmate esters of conjugated aromatic olefins in the hydrolysis step.

A mechanistic study of the deracemization of (±)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone mediated by the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum to afford pure (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol is reported. The key aspect of the study was the use of pure (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone enantiomers to ensure reliable conclusions. Experiments in the absence of yeast cells or using dead cells disclosed that the pure enantiomers were not racemized, which suggest that the whole dynamic kinetic resolution process is enzymatic in character. When living yeast cells were used the (R)-substrate was smoothly converted to (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol, whilst the (S)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone was converted to the same diol through a more complex fashion, which requires a more lengthy oxidation-reduction pathway having the 1,2-indanedione as an achiral intermediate. An unexpected observation was that 1,2-indanone acts as a moderate inhibitor of the reductive enzymes acting in the conversion of (R)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone to (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol.

The diastereo- and enantioselective syntheses of trans-cycloalkyl amines was accomplished through a three-step sequence consisting of: (1) asymmetric transfer hydrogenation through dynamic kinetic resolution of bicyclic and monocyclic α-substituted ketones using HCO2H/Et3N as the hydrogen source and TsDPEN-based Ru(II) catalysts, (2) nucleophilic hydroxyl to azide substitution of the resulting cis-cycloalkanols using diphenyl phosphoryl azide under modified Mitsunobu conditions, and (3) reduction of the trans-azide intermediates with LiAlH4 of PPh3/H2O to the desired targets.

A polysulfone based novel polymer-supported osmium catalyst has been developed. The catalyst was prepared from commercially available polysulfone, based on a microencapsulation technique and was employed in the asymmetric dihydroxylation of various olefins using (DHQD)2PHAL as the chiral ligand and NMO as the co-oxidant in H2O-acetone-CH3CN (1:1:1). The catalyst was recovered by simple filtration and was reused to obtain excellent yields with good enantioselectivity up to five times.

Enantioselective catalytic reactions that operate directly on unactivated alkenes for the preparation of chiral organic building blocks and new materials. More particularly, a catalyzed enantioselective reaction that operates on an unsaturated hydrocarbon, such as an alkene, to provide an enantiomerically enriched reactive organometallic intermediate, which can be converted to a variety of multifunctional optically active reaction products.

(Chemical Equation Presented) LiBr catalyzes efficiently the dihydroxylation of alkenes to afford syn and anti diols with excellent diastereoselectivity depending upon the use of NaIO4 (30 mol %) or PhI(OAc)2 (1 equiv), respectively, as the oxidants. The oxidation of non-benzylic halides has been achieved for the first time to afford the corresponding diols in excellent yields.

A variation within the osmium-catalysed asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of olefins is described that yields cyclic boronic esters from olefins in a straight-forward manner. This process represents the first real product alteration in asymmetric dihydroxylation, since all previous protocols lead to free diols exclusively. A protocol based on the Sharpless AD conditions (for enantioselective oxidation of prochiral olefins) was developed that gives cyclic boronic esters with excellent enantiomeric excesses (ee's). Some of the ee's are higher than those reported for conventional AD. The unprecedented role of phenyl boronic acid on the course of the AD reaction was investigated in detail. PhB(OH)2 does not interfere with the chiral ligand. leaving the enantioselective step of olefin oxidation intact. The main role of the boronic acids - apart from protecting the diol products against potential overoxidation-relies on removing the diol entity in an electrophilic cleavage, which is in contrast to the conventional hydrolylic cleavage of the AD protocols. Thus, a mechanistically new cleavage for enantioselective dihydroxylation reactions is introduced within the present work.

The rhodium-catalyzed reaction between bis(catecholato)diboron and simple alkenes results in the syn addition of the diboron across the alkene. The resulting 1,2-bis(boronate) is subsequently oxidized to provide the 1,2-diol. In the presence of enantiomerically enriched Quinap ligand, high enantioselection in the diboration can be achieved. The reaction is highly selective for trans- and trisubstituted alkenes and can be selective for some monosubstituted alkenes as well. The development of this reaction is described as is the substrate scope and experiments that are informative about the reaction mechanism and competing pathways.

Recently, we discovered a significant rate acceleration in RuO 4-catalysed dihydroxylations of olefins by addition of Broensted-acids resulting in a reduction of the catalyst loading to only 0.5 mol%. The present paper gives a full account on the optimisation protocol that led to the discovery of the beneficial influence of protic acids. A strong focus is set on the detailed description of the influence of different reaction parameters on both reactivity and selectivity. In the second part an intense investigation of scope and limitations will be presented. The results provided in this manuscript might lead to a deeper understanding of competing processes that influence the selectivity in RuO4-catalysed dihydroxylations.

A concise highly diastereo- and enantioselective preparation of homochiral (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol 1 (75% yield, >99% e.e.) by asymmetric reduction of 1,2-indanedione 5 mediated by fresh resting cells of Trichosporon cutaneum CCT 1903 is reported.

Enantioselective catalytic reactions that operate directly on inexpensive unactivated alkenes are extraordinarily useful for the preparation of chiral organic building blocks and new materials. While a number of such processes have been developed, our ability to meet the intensifying demand for inexpensive stereochemically complex materials will require a significant expansion of practical catalytic asymmetric reaction methodology. In this regard, the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective diboration reaction has been developed in order to address a number of extant problems in catalytic alkene transformation simultaneously. This process provides an enantiomerically enriched reactive dimetalated intermediate which can be converted to a variety of difunctional reaction products. Copyright

Lipase-mediated kinetic resolution of cis-1,2-indandiol 5 in the presence of lipase PS was examined. Enantiomerically enriched (1S,2R)-2-acetoxy-1-indanol 6a was obtained when cis-1,2-indandiol 5 was treated with one equivalent of vinyl acetate. Treatment of 5 with two equivalents of vinyl acetate furnished a mixture of (1R,2S)-2-acetoxy-1-indanol 6a and (1R,2S)-1-acetoxy-2-indanol 6b. A route to both enantiomers of 1 was also developed by using the enantiomerically enriched mono-acetate thus obtained.

Involatile OsO4! A tetrasubstituted olefin is immobilized on SiO2 and reacts with OsO4 to form a stable osmate (IV) ester (see scheme), which is a leak-proof heterogeneous catalyst for the cis-dihydroxylation of olefins.

In osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylations use of polymer-supported alkaloids with an anthraquinone core allows to obtain optically active diols with high enantioselectivities. Soluble as well as insoluble polymers have been tested for immobilization.

A process for resolution of a mixture of dihydroxydihydroindene enantiomers comprising treating the mixture of enantiomers with a Pseudomonas putida species microorganism. Resolved dihydroxydihydroindenes are valuable intermediates for the synthesis of biologically active compounds such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Indane, 1A, and a series of 2-substituted indane substrates, 1B-1D, 1G, 1I-1L, were found to undergo benzylic monohydroxylation catalysed by toluene dioxygenase, present in the intact cells of Pseudomonas putida UV 4, to yield enantiopure cis-indan-1-ols, 2A-2D, 2G, 2I-2L of the same absolute configuration at C-1 as major bioproducts. Enantiopure trans-indan-1-ols 6B, 6C, and 6G were also obtained as minor metabolites. Evidence of further sequential benzylic hydroxylation (bis-hydroxylation) was found only with substrates 2A, 1C, 1D and 1L to yield the corresponding enantiopure trans-1,3-diols, 3A, 3C, 3D and 3L. Minor enzyme-catalysed processes also observed include benzylic alcohol oxidation to ketones (4A, 5A, 4B, 4L, 5L), ketone reduction to benzylic alcohol 6A, ester hydrolysis to indan-2-ol 1B, and cis-dihydroxylation of indan-1-ol 6A to triol 7. The enantiopurities and absolute configurations of bioproducts have been determined using MTPA ester formation, circular dichroism spectroscopy and stereochemical correlation methods. The contribution of asymmetric oxidation and kinetic resolution to the production of bioproducts of high ee (>98%), and the metabolic sequence involved in their biotransformation by P. putida UV4 is discussed. Enantiocomplementarity was found during the benzylic hydroxylation of indan-2-ol 1B, using toluene dioxygenase and naphthalene dioxygenase, when both single enantiomers of the metabolites 2B, 4B and 6B of opposite configurations were obtained.

Covalent anchoring of 1,4-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane on silica gel is the first step in the preparation of a heterogenized Mn catalyst. When H2O2 is used as the oxidant, this material can catalyze the vicinal cis- dihydroxylation of disubstituted olefins, as shown schematically here. Both enantiomers of the product are obtained.

Scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate is found to be a Lewis acid catalyst for selective cleavage of esters containing a coordinative group adjacent to an ester moiety. The reaction proceeds under weak acidic conditions at room temperature; the catalyst can be recovered and reused. Even α-acyloxy ketones are deacetylated without racemization. Selective monodeacetylation at C-10 of paclitaxel has been achieved.

Starting from the α-hydroxy acid chiral-pool, the 1R,2S- and 1S,2S- indan-1,2-diols have been prepared in a few steps with excellent diastereoselectivity.

The fungus Corynosporium cassicola DSM 62475 is shown to induce deracemization in certain 1,2-diols, including the synthetically important indane-1,2-diol, by enantioconvergent stereoinversion processes in which the recovered enantiomer is not a substrate for the dehydrogenase enzymes involved.

Enantiomerically pure cis-glycols, derived through the microbial metabolism of hydrocarbons, represent a valuable chiral pool for the synthesis of cis β-amino alcohols. One generally applicable route to these important chiral intermediates is described. Reaction of the metabolically formed diol with α-acetoxyisobutyryl chloride affords regio- and stereoselectively a single trans-1,2-chlorohydrin acetate isomer. Displacement of chloride by azide, aminolysis of the ester and reduction of the azide provides the requisite amino alcohols. This 4-step route is highly efficient and affords the cis β-amino alcohol enantiomers in 41-57% overall yields. Using the highly enantiopure amino alcohols diastereomeric oxazaborolidines were prepared with both (-)-(S)- and (+)-(R)-[2-(1-methoxyethyl)phenyl]boronic acids. As described herein, these derivatives are potentially useful for absolute configurational assignments to cis amino alcohols.

The biohydrolyses of various substituted styrene oxide derivatives using the fungi Aspergillus niger or Beauveria sulferescens are described. The results obtained show that this methodology allows the preparation of enantiomerically enriched epoxides and diols via enantioselective and regioselective hydration. The comparative study of the results obtained suggests that these hydrolyses operate following different mechanisms and a model of the corresponding active sites is proposed.

Enantiopure benzylic alcohols containing two stereogenic centres in a cis- relationship result from stereoselective monohydroxylation of achiral 2- substituted indans in cultures of Pseudomonas putida UV4 and are used in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of both cis- and trans-aminoindanol enantiomers.

Keywords: Asymmetrische Dihydroxylierungen; Chirale Liganden; Chinchonaalkaloide; Katalyse; Osmiumverbindungen